THE ARTICLE CLAIMS THAT THE DEPRISONIZATION MOVEMENT EXAGGERATES THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF IMPROVING PRISON CONDITIONS AND THAT THESE EXAGGERATIONS ARE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY STATE CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS. THUS, NO ATTEMPT IS MADE TO IMPROVE PRISONS BY CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS WHO FEEL DEFEATED AND OFFENDERS, PRISON PERSONNEL, AND THE PUBLIC SUFFER. MOREOVER, SUCH DEFEATISM RUNS COUNTER TO TRADITIONAL AMERICAN OPTIMISM AND THE BELIEF THAT MANKIND CAN BE IMPROVED. STATES SHOULD PRUDENTLY, REASONABLY, AND VIGOROUSLY TRY TO IMPROVE PRISONS, RESERVING THEM FOR ONLY THE MOST DANGEROUS CRIMINALS AND DEVELOPING SPECIAL, COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS FOR THE LESS DANGEROUS. CRIME RATES AND PRISON POPULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW THE FALLING BIRTH RATE, BUT AS PRISONS ARE NOW MORE DANGEROUS THAN IN THE PAST, THEY WILL NOT BE EASY TO IMPROVE. IMPROVING PRISONS WILL REQUIRE MAINTAINING LAW AND ORDER, AND SAFETY, AMONG PRISONERS; PROVIDING INMATE WORK AND REHABILITATION OPPORTUNITIES; AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE ASSURING PRISONERS OF GRIEVANCE REDRESS, KEEPING PRISONS SMALL, AND ENCOURAGING PRISONER-COMMUNITY CONTACTS. NOTES AND COMMENTARY ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)